A case of cerebral sparganosis in South America

Um caso de esparganose cerebral na América do Sul

CONTENTS CONTEÚDO

Alejandro M. E. Boero^I; Pedro Garaguso^II; Jorge Navarré^III

^IChief of Residence, Division of Neurology - From the Divisions of Neurology, Parasitology and Neurosurgery, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Buenos Aires

^IIProfessor of Parasitology - From the Divisions of Neurology, Parasitology and Neurosurgery, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Buenos Aires

^IIIStaff Neurosurgeon - From the Divisions of Neurology, Parasitology and Neurosurgery, Ramos Mejía Hospital, Buenos Aires

SUMMARY

Cerebral sparganosis (CS) is a parasitic infection caused by the larva of Spirometry mansonoides. Rarely it can affect the human brain. We report the case of a 24-year old man from Paraguay who suffered from seizures and headache for one. year. A frontal tumor was diagnosed by CT-scan and was subsequently resected. The pathological examination revealed a larva with Sparganum characteristics. The evolution of the patient was satisfactory. As far as we know, this is the first case of CS reported in South-America.

RESUMO

Esparganose cerebral (EC) é infecção parasitária causada pela larva do Spiro-metra mansonoides. Raramente afeta o cérebro humano. Descrevemos o caso de um paciente paraguaio com 24 anos, que apresentava convulsões freqüentes e cefaléia há um ano. Tumor frontal foi diagnosticado por TC de crânio e ressecado posteriormente. O exame anatomopatológico evidenciou larva com características de Sparganum. A evolução do paciente foi satisfatória. Que seja de nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro caso de EC relatado na América do Sul.

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Acknowledgements - We thanks Drs. H.A. molina, J.D. Correale, L.A.L. Resende and R.E.P. Sica for reviewing the manuscript.

Dr. Alejandro M. E. Boero - División Neurología, Hospital General de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía - Urquiza 609 - 1221 Buenos Aires - Argentina.

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A CASE OF CEREBRAL SPARGANOSIS IN SOUTH AMERICA

Um caso de esparganose cerebral na América do Sul.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Feb 2011
• Date of issue
  Mar 1991